Improvement in paper-files



M. CRAFT. Paper-Files.

P ate nt ed Nov. 11, 1873'.

' presently described.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAHLON CRAFT, OF BELLAIRE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAPER-FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,512, dated Noyember 11,1873 application filed October 6, 1873.

simple and convenient device for holding newspapers so that they may be read as a book, and be preserved in a smooth and untorn condition, as is fully set forth in the following description, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a view, in perspective, of my improved newspaper-holder; Fig. 2, an

enlarged cross-section of the same; Fig. 3, an

enlarged view of the locking-end, showing the notch for the bent ends of the retaining-wires Fig. 4, a partial longitudinal section, showing the slide and its holding-pin; Fig. 5, a view of the retaining-wires with slide attached; Fig. 6, a view of the equalizing-slide attachment for the wires.

The inclosing-case A is open at its side for the reception of any proper number of papers, B, which are held securely and in smooth condition by one or more retaining-wires, C, secured within the case A, in a manner to be I design to use sometimes one wire, and sometimes more. At one end of the case A is suitably incloscd a slide, a, to which one end of the retaining wire or wires 0 is attached. The other end of said case has a notch, 11, into which the bent end of the retaining-wire fits and is held in place. The slide a is made to receive a thumb-screw, e, which passes through the end of the slide, and which operates to tighten the wire or wires when the papers are filed. The slide a is held in its required position within the case A by a holdingpin, f, which also prevents V the slide a from coming out of the case.

The screw e having been loosened, and the bent end of the wire O released from its holding-notch b, the paper folded over the wire is inserted into the opening in the case A, the wire being held at one end by the slide a, and at the other by the notch b, into whichv it is inserted. The thumb-screw e is then tightened, and the papers held firmly in place.

It is obvious that several wires may be used in this manner if desired, the wires being isolated by the sheets of the paper, and by their bent ends having sufficient play in the notch to accommodate unequal thicknesses in the papers held.

A second feature of my invention consists in combining with the slide a pivoted plate, 9, to which the wires are attached for the purpose of equalizing the strain upon the wires by accommodating itself to their length when one is rendered shorter than the other by the difference in the thickness of the folds of paper, because when a greater number of papers are secured upon one wire than the other one will necessarily be bowed more or less, and, therefore, more or less shorter than the other; and it is to accommodate this unequal length in the wires caused by the papers that I em-' ploy the equalizing-plate g, which, turning upon its pivot, thus yields to the bend in the wire, and keeps both wires under equal strain, although attached to the same slide, and have their bent ends drawn into the holding-notch by the same adjusting-screw. The bent ends form eyes 0 for the rings 01, by which the file may be hung up.

A plain wrapper may be used to keep the papers clean.

The newspaper-holder may be constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials desired.

I claim 1. A newspaper-holder consisting. of the Witnesses:

OHAs. O. CRATTY, HERMAN Ronnonn. 

